Museum of Appalachia going back to its roots with new two events
The first is Haunts and History on Oct. 26-27.
“This is the first time we’ve done anything like this,” Meyer said. “We have the perfect setting to tell some spooky stories that are family-friendly.”
While many Halloween events seem to lean more toward horror and gore, the museum’s will focus on spooky Appalachian folklore.
“There are no monsters with chainsaws waiting to jump out at you from behind the cabins,” Meyer joked. “We’ll have storytellers and a presentation on Appalachian funerals in the Hall of Fame.”
The Hall of Fame already hosts an original, ornate black hearse with some plaques telling the stories of how people handled death and funerals back then.
There will be a trick-or-treat trail with homemade and vintage candies and treats, hay rides, live music, blacksmithing and pumpkin carving demonstrations.
Tickets are $12 per person or $35 for an entire family. Museum members are free.
The second event the museum is putting on this fall is more familiar. In an effort to return to its roots, the museum will host Fall Heritage Day on Nov. 10.
“It’s kind of a throwback to the original Homecoming, before it became centered so much around the music,” he said. “It was about the pottery and woodworking, basket weaving and all those types of things. At Heritage Day, we want to keep the music regional and focused on the [pioneer] era.”
The museum will also host the Great Appalachian Fiddlers convention that day.
According to a press release, the event “will transport guests back in time through the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of pioneer traditions and demonstrations.” There will be sheep herding, antique tractors, old-fashioned games and a mule-jumping contest. There will be lots of food, folk music and interactive demonstrations.
Tickets are available for purchase on the museum’s website at museumofappalachia.org.
